France FM Barrot visits Beirut, meets President Aoun on Lebanon ceasefire — announces unscheduled Israel trip Friday

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Beirut on Thursday, March 19, as part of a French push to de-escalate the Lebanon front of the Iran war. Barrot met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who stressed 'the necessity of a ceasefire, and to provide the necessary guarantees for its success by the parties concerned,' according to a Lebanese presidency statement. Aoun said his March 9 ceasefire initiative — a four-point plan calling for a full truce with Israel, increased support for the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah, and direct negotiations with Israel — was 'still on the table, but the continued military escalation is hindering its launch.' He added: 'What is important is to stop the escalation between Hezbollah and Israel.' Following the Beirut talks, Barrot announced an unscheduled visit to Israel on Friday to discuss 'regional security and humanitarian aid issues, and attempts to de-escalate the conflicts in the Middle East,' the French foreign ministry said. France has been doubling humanitarian aid to Lebanon and pressing both sides for a ceasefire; France Aid Foreign Minister Barrot had previously increased Lebanon humanitarian aid to €17M. Lebanon was drawn into the war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Iran. Since then, IDF has struck Hezbollah across southern Lebanon and Beirut, and Israel's Defence Minister Katz warned Israel would 'take the territory' if Hezbollah continued fighting. Lebanon's civilian toll has reached 1,001 killed (118 children) and 2,584 wounded. Israel has rebuffed direct Beirut-level talks previously, but Barrot's Friday Jerusalem visit represents the most active French diplomatic push on the Lebanon front since the war began.